Shinde orders NIA to probe Patna blasts

Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Wednesday got the probe into the Patna serial blasts off the Bihar police's chest, ordering the National Investigation Agency to take over.

Shinde announced the NIA probe after a meeting with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who has been at the receiving end for the state police's handling of the security at the political rally by BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

The serial blasts - that came within months of serial blasts in Bodh Gaya temple - also appeared to have persuaded the state government to give building its anti-terror capabilities a serious thought.

"We need the Centre's help. We have also decided to set up an anti-terror squad," Kumar said.

The Bihar government - which had earlier also transferred the Bodh Gaya blasts to the NIA - has been reluctant to be seen as going after terrorists, refusing to even arrest Indian Mujahideen leader Yasin Bhatkal in the past.

Kumar said the Bihar Police had arrested one person involved in the blasts and was pursuing several leads.

"Since the police doesn't have terrorists' database and the NIA does, we have decided to hand over the case to them following a recommendation of state DGP," the CM said.